Stoker apparatus



Aug. 12, 1947.. C -NEUFELD 2,425,339

.sToKER APPARATUSy Filed Jan. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

L EON/4R0 0. NEUFELD M www Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE STOKER APPARATUS Leonard C. Neufeld, Des Moines, Iowa Application January 22, 1945, rSerial No. 573,936

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to coal stokers of residential type having a hand-fed fuel hop'- per, and in particular to an attachment for Such stokers adapted to feed fuel to the hopper by a a suction action.

The convenience of Stoker heated homes is offset in many installations by the requirement of hand feeding the stoker hopper. Even though such feeding is required at infrequent intervals, it involves a rather close locating of the fuel Within .the hopper opening to prevent the spilling of fuel about the door. Further fuel to be burned in the Stoker is generally carried in a bin adjacent to or removed from the stoker hopper. Thus when the fuel bin is partially emptied the stoker operator must walk back and forth across coal dust on the floor within the bin so that not only is the floor about the stoker'continuously tracked and dirtied, but oftentimes the coal dust is tracked into the living quarters of the home. As a result, unless the floor about the Stoker is frequently swept, dust, .dirt and loose fuel quickly accumulate and are soon carried throughout the room in vwhich the stoker is located so as to give an over-.all'unclean appearance.

A further objection to the usual hand-fed residential stoker is the fact that appreciable shovelling of coal, as well as transport of the coal from a bin into the Stoker hopper; is required for each filling of the hopper. 'Appreciable manual effort is thus exerted so that filling of the hopper is generally a' chore for the men of a'household. On their absence from the home this chore is oftentimes a hardship to remaining members of the household.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved means for feeding fuel to hand-fed stokers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attacliable mechanical means for feedinga stoker hopper which is adapted to be operated by the usual Stoker motor regardless of the Aoperation of the motor as required by any heat demand on the Stoker. f

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical means for feeding fuelinto a Stoker hopper which is capable of picking up all loose coal, coal dust and ash particles from about a Stoker and within a icoal bin so asl to maintain the oor Space about the: Stoker in ia clean condition.

A still further object of this invention is-to provide a mechanical means for feeding a usual hand-fed fuel hopper in a residential Stoker,

which lrequires a minimum of manual effort in its operation so that fuel can be supplied to the hopper by any member of the household.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a suction-creating unit which is attachable to a usual Stoker hopper for operation from the stoker motor. The outlet of the suction unit is open to the top portion of the hopper for discharging fuel into the hopper, while the inlet of the suction vunit is provided with a flexible conduit having its free end movable to a fuel storagebin or the like to pick up fuel vfor feeding to the hopper.

Yet another feature of this invention is found in the provision of a Suction-producing unit for feeding fuel into a Stoker hopper which is operated from the stoker motor through a clutch device. A control switch for the motor circuit is closed on manual operation of the clutch to a fthrovv in or connecting position, with the clutch being vmoved to a disconnecting or throw out position and the control switch to an open position in response to the rise of the fuel in the hopper to a predetermined level.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with the laccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l iS a longitudinal sectional view through a Stoker hopper showing the attachment of this invention in assembly relation therewith;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a Stoker hopper with parts broken away to more clearly show the assembly of the attachment of this invention therein;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4in Fig. 3;

Fig. '5 is an enlarged plan view showing the suction-producing unit of the hopper feeding means,v of this invention and its assembly in a drivenl relation with the operating motor of-a Stoker;

, Fig. 6 is a Sectional view taken on the line -:S in Fig. 5;

paratus including a fuel hopper or compartment II, and a motor compartment I2. The top of the fuel hopper I I is provided with a cover 26 for an opening 21 through which fuel is usually fed by hand into the hopper. A screw conveyor I3 for carrying fuel from the hopper I I' to the stoker retort (not shown) is extended across the bottom portion of the hopper and within the motor compartment I2 for connection with a combination speed reduction and transmission unit I4 having a driven shaft I6.

Mounted upon the shaft I6 is a multiple sheave or pulley unit I1 which is connected through a belt I8 with a multiple sheave unit I9 carried on the projected end 2I of a shaft 22 of an electrical motor 23. The motor 23 is located within the compartment I2 and is supported on a casing 24 of .the fuel conveyor I3.

Also mounted on the shaft end 2I', and to the outside of the sheave unit I9, is a blower or fan 26 having an air outlet 21 connected through an air conduit 28 with the stoker retort to supply combustion air thereto.

It isseen, therefore, that on operation of the motor`23 the blower 26 is operated at the speed of the motor 23, while the fuel conveyor I3 may be operated at varying speeds depending upon the relative position of the belt I8 on the multiple sheave units I1 and I9. The above described stoker construction and operation is common in available commercial stokers.

The attachment of this invention providing for a mechanical feeding of fuel into the hopper IIAfrom a storage or coal bin comprises a suction-producing unit or blower 3I located within the compartment I2 above the combination unit I4. The suction unit housing 32 (Fig. 5) is secured to a side wall 33 of the compartment I2 by screws 34 0r like suitable means. A shaft 36 for the suction unit 3I is rotatably supported inthe housing 32 and is arranged above and in a parallel relation with the shaft I6 of the combination unit I`4. The shaft 36 has a pulley 31 mounted at its inner end and connected through a belt 38 with a pulley 39 rotatably mounted on the motor shaft 22 between the multiple sheave unit I9`and the motor hub 49.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the pulley 39 is of a split type comprised of separable mating half members 42 so that the pulley may be positioned on the shaft 22 without the removal from the shaft ofthe sheave unit I9 or the blower 26. It is contemplated that`screws 4I for securing the mating half members 42 together be inclined inwardly'of the pulley hub 43 to facilitate access to the screws 4I by a screw driver or the like for tightening purposes.

The side face of the pulley 39 adjacent to the sheave unit I9 is provided with a clutch or friction ring 44 (Figs. 6 and 8) which is frictionally engageable with the side face 46 of the sheave unit I9, on axial movement of the pulley 39 toward the'sheave unit I9, so as to constitute a friction clutch device for connecting and disconnecting the pulley 39 in a driven relation with the motor shaft 22. An axial movement of the pulley `39againstlth e sheave unit I9 is accomplished.V by means including a clutch lever 41 (Figs. 4 and 5) having one end 48 slidably ex tended through an opening 49 in a inclined top wall I of the housing I0, while its opposite end 52 is of a bifurcated or U-shape construction slidably supported in a straddling relation with the motor shaft 22 between the pulley 39 and the motor hub 4I).V

A flat spring 53 is secured to one side of the clutch lever 41 so as to be movable against the motor hub 40 on actuation of the clutch lever 41 to a throw in position inwardly of the compartment I2, or to the right as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. As clearly appears in Fig. 4, the free end of the spring 53 is of a U-shape construction, corresponding to the shape of the lever end 52, and isrbowed outwardly from the lever 41 so that on inward actuation of the lever the spring 53 is pressed between the lever end 52 and the motor hub 40 to in turn yieldably urge the pulley 39 into frictional engagement with the sheave unit I9 for rotation therewith.

The clutch lever 41 adjacent its end 48, and within the compartment I2, is provided on its top side, as viewed in Fig. 4, with a laterally eX- tended projection 55 of a tooth shape having an inclined cam surface 51 and a stop portion 58. On the lower side of the lever 41 and arranged oppositely from the projection 55 is a lateral projection 59 having a cam portion with inclined sides 6I and 62 and an intermediate high side or spot 63.

The lever projection 55 is operatively associated with a control rod or shaft 64 having a straight portion 65 extended adjacent to and below the top wall 5I of the housing I0 and pivotally or rockably supported in bearings 66 secured to the under side of the wall 5I. The straight portion 65 of the control rod 64 has a crank arm 61 at its lower end, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, which extends downwardly from the top wall 5I so that its free end rides in a following relation on the cam surface 51 of the lever projection 55. 'I'he opposite or upper end of the control rod 64 is formed with a somewhat similar crank arm 69 engageable with a radial extension 15 on the top of a vertically movable sleeve 12 located in the fuel hopper II (Figs. 1 and 2).

The sleeve 12 is guidably supported for vertical movement on an upright portion 13 of a fuelcarrying conduit or pipe 14 connected with the outlet Aof the suction-producing unit BI. The conduit 14 from the suction unit 3I is extended along the under side of the housing top wall 5I adjacent to the straight portion 65 of the control rod 64 and terminates in the downwardly bent upright portion 13 at a position near the top of the fuel hopper II. The lower end of the sleeve 12 carries a relatively wide annular flange 16 the periphery 11 of which is engageable with the top surface 1'8 of the fuel fed into the hopper II for a purpose which will later be fully explained. A stop ring IUI at the lower end of the upright pipe portion 13 prevents the sleeve 12 from falling into the hopper when the fuel in the hopper drops to a low level.

The projection 59 on the lever 41 (Fig. 4) is operatively associated with a control switch 19 connected in the circuit for the motor 23 and supported within the motor compartment I2 on a bracket 8l mounted on the housing wall 5I by screws or the like 82. The switch 19 is of a usual construction and includes a pair of actuating members 83 and 84 which are mutually responsive in operation to open and close the circuit for the motor 23. In other words on depressing the actuating member 84 the actuating member 83 is concurrently raised from a depressed position to provide a circuit closing position for the switch. Conversely on depression of the actuating memfber 83 the member 84 is raised from a depressed position to provide a circuit opening position of the switch. This action is clearly apparent from a consideration of the circuit diagram in Fig. 9 in which the actuating members 83 and 84 are diagrammatically illustrated as pivoted at: opposite ends of a lever 81, which in turn is pivoted intermediate its ends at 98. The actuating member 83 is concurrently movable with a contact conductor 89 for connecting and disconnecting the switch terminals 9| as will be later explained.

A tension spring 92 is connected atone end to a projection 93 on the lever 41 and at its opposite end to an extension 94 on the switch supporting bracket 8| and acts to continuously urge or bias the lever 41 to a clutch opening or throwout position.

The control circuit for the motor 23 (Fig. `9) is connected with supply lines |93 and |04 with a suitable source of electrical power. `The control switch 19 is illustrated as being connected in series with the supply line |94, with depression of the actuating member 94 closing the line |94 by the contact engagement of the conductor 89 across the switch terminals 9| in the line |94, and with the depression of the actuating member 83 moving the conductor 89 away from a terminal connecting position. An automatic Switch device, designated generally as |96, is connected with the supply line l 94 in parallel with the control switch 19 so as to be operable independently of the switch 19 for opening and closing the motor circuit in response to any heat demand upon the stoker.

In the operation of the invention assume the fuel hopper to be partially empty and the stoker motor 23 at a standstill, in other words in a condition where there is no heat demand upon the stoker so as to require an opera-tion of the motor 23. Assume also that the lever 41 is in its normal throw-out position, maintained by the tension spring 92, and shown in full lines in Fig. 4. This throw-out position of the lever 41 corresponds to the open position of the switch 1'9 shown in Fig. 9.

To ll the hopper a manual grip v95 on the projected end 48 of the lever 41 is manually pushed inwardly, or toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4, against the pressure of the spring 92 to move the lever 41 to its dotted line position 4also shown in Fig. 4. During this movement oi the clutch lever 41 to a clutch throw-in position the spring 53 is pressed between the lever 41 and the motor hub 40 to move the pulley 39 into frictional engagement with the multiple sheave unit 19. Concurrently with this frictional'engagement of the pulley 39 for rotation with the sheave unit 9 the high spot 63 on the lever projection 59 moves out of engagement with the switch actuating member 83 and into engagement lwith the switch actuating member 84, by the action of the cam side 6|, to depress the member rBil/to av position for closing the motor circuit. It is thus seen that the motor 23 is set into operation concurrently with the frictional engagement of the pulley 39 with the sheave unit I3, to provide for the operation of the suction unit 3| throughl its belt connection 38 with the pulley 39.

The lever 41 is maintained in its dotted line position, shown in Fig. 4, by the engagement of the crank arm I(i1 with the stop portion- 58 on the lever projection 55. This stop engagement i-s accomplished 'by the pivotal movement of the control rod y64 in response to the travel of the crank arm 61 upwardly on the cam portion l51 of the projection 55, with the arm 61 on reaching the top end of the cam portion 51 dropping into engagement with the stop portion 58 by the action of gravity.

vThe inlet 94 of the suction unit 3| is connected with a flexible hose or conduit 96 extended outwardly from the housing Ill and provided at its free end with a suction or pick-up nozzle 91. The hose 99 may be of any suitable length to reach the fuel stored in a bin or the like for burning in the Stoker. With the suction unit 3| in operation the stoker operator merely moves the pick-up device 91 over the fuel which is to be supplied to the hopper. This fuel is picked up by the suction action of the unit 3|, carried through the hose 96 into the suction unit 3|, and then through the fuel passage or pipe 14 for discharge therefrom into the fuel hopper through the upright pipe portion 13.

With the filling of the hopper the fuel level approaches the lower end of the pipe portion 13, as viewed in Fig. 1. As the fuel level continues to rise it will be blown out from below the upright pipe portion 13 so as to form a substantially circular hole 98, the periphery 99 of which substantially defines the topmost level 19 of the fuel in the hopper. With thecontinued supply of fuel into the hopper the fuel at the periphery 99 engages the periphery 11 of the flange 1B whereby the flange 16 and in turn the sleeve 12 are pushed upwardly in response to the rise in the level of the fuel. During this upward movement of the sleeve 12 the crank arm 69 on the control rod 94 is engaged by the radial sleeve projection 15 whereby Vthe rod y64 is pivotally moved to disengage the crank arm 61 from its engaged position with the stop portion 58 on the projection 55 of the lever 41.

On movement of the crank arm 61 out of engagement 'with the stop 58 the lever 41 is moved outwardly or to the left, as viewed in Figs. l and 4, to its throw-out position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. This movementv of the clutch lever 41 permits the pulley 39 to move out of frictional engagement with the multiple unit I9 concurrently with the release of the switch-actuating member V84 from its depressed position closing the moto-r circuit, and the depression of the actuating member 83 to a circuit opening position. Thus the frictional disengagement of the pulley 39 with the sheave unit i9, and in turn the stopping of the suction unit 3|takes place concurrently with the stopping of the motor 23 in response to the rise of fuel in the hopper to a predetermined level and independently of any attention by the Stoker operator. In other words even though the fuel storage bin is located in a position at which the hopper is out of the vision o-f the operator, the suction unit 3| will be automatically stopped on iilling of the hopper so as to preclude any constant attention fby the operator as to the filled condition of the hopper.

Assuming the motor 23 to be in operation by the action of the automatic switch in response to a stoker heat control unit, such as a room thermostat or the like (not shown), the actuating lever 41 is manually moved to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 in the manner described above. Since the motor 23 is already in operation the closing Aof the motor circuit by vthe switch 19 in no way laiects such operation by virtue of the connection of the switch 19 in parallel with the automatic -switch |95. The pulley 39, however, isl moved into frictional engagement with the multiple unit I9 to provide for the operation of the suction unit 3|. In the event the automatic switch |96 is actuated to its open position during the time the hopper is being lled, the motor 23 will continue' in `operation todrive 7 the suction unit 3I by virtue of the motor circuit, being closed by the switch 19. The hopper filling operation will thus proceed uninterrupted.

When the hopper is filled to a predetermined level, as above explained, the sleeve 12 is moved upwardly to rock the rod 94 and provide for the release of the crank arm 61 with .the stop portion 58 to disengage the pulley 39 from the multiple sheave unit I9, and to actuate the switch 19 to its open position to stop the operation of the motor 23. Should the motor be maintained in operation by the automatic Switch |95 for the full time required for filling the hopper Il, the pivotal movement of the crank arm 91 away from the stop 53 will merely actuate the switch 19 to its open position, so that the motor 23 will stop on the later opening of the automatic switch |06.

It is apparent that in the operation of the suction unit 3! air will be discharged into the fuel hopper I! along with fuel so as to create an air pressure within the hopper Il. This pressure is released through an air outlet I I9, in the housing top wall portion III, which is provided with a filter H2 to prevent the escape of coal dust into the Stoker room. Also as clearly appears from a consideration of Fig. l the air pressure pocketed within the blow hole 98 may act alone or in conjunction with the rise of the fuel level in the hopper I I to move the ange 16 and in turn the sleeve 12 upwardly to rock the control rod 64.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a mechanical means for feeding a usual hand-fed stoker hopper such that a minimum of effort and attention is required b-y the stoker operator to ll the hopper. The operator need only operate the clutch member 41 .to its throw-in position for frictionally engaging the pulley 39 with the multple sheave unit I9 and then manipulate the suction nozzle 91 over the fuel to be supplied to the hopper. When the hopper is filled the suction unit 3| is automatically stopped and the stoker conditioned for normal operation without any attention by the operator. It is obvious, of course, that the nozzle 91 is movable about the housing I9, as Well as to fuel stored remotely from the stoker, so that at the beginning of a hopper filling operation the nozzle 91 may be utilized to pick up dirt, coal dust and any ash particles which might be lying on the floor around the Stoker. As the coal bin becomes emptied all coal dust on the open iioor space within the coal bin may be continuously picked up so as to eliminate any need of the operator tracking back and forth across a coal dust covered floor.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to any particular type of stoker apparatus, and may be applied to many type stokers now in commercial use. It is to be understood also that although the invention has been described with respect to a single embodiment thereof that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In Stoker apparatus, the combination with a housing having a fuel hopper, of means for feeding fuel by suction into said hopper including a suction-producing means supported on said housing, a motor, means for operating said suctionproducing means from said motor including a clutch device for connecting and disconnecting said suction means with said motor, an outlet for said suction-producing means open to said hopper, an inlet for said suction-producing means,

a fuel-carrying conduit connected at one end with said inlet, with the opposite end of said conduit being movable to pick up stored fuel for feeding to said hopper, and means for controlling the operation of said motor in response to the actuation of said clutch device to connecting and disconnecting positions therefor.

2. In stoker apparatus including a housing having a fuel compartment, and a motor compartment, an electrical motor in said motor compartment having a driving shaft, means for feeding fuel to said fuel compartment by suction including a suction-producing unit supported on said housing, means for driving said suction unit from said shaft including a rst member mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and a second member rotatable on said shaft and movable axially of said shaft into and out of driven engagement with said rst member, means connecting said suction unit in a driven relation with said second member, actuating means for said second member movable to a first position to axially move said second member into driven engagement with said first member and movable to a second position to release said second -member from said driven engagement, an outlet for said suction unit open to said fuel compartment, an inlet for said suction unit having an end portion movable to positions to pick up stored fuel for feeding to said fuel compartment, a control switch in the circuit for said motor, means responsive to the movement of said actuating means to operate said switch, Said actuating means being manually movable to said first position to opcrate said switch to a circuit closing position, and means responsive to a rise of the fuel in said fuel compartment to a substantially lled level to move the actuating means to said second position, with said actuating means, on movement to said second position, operating said switch to a circuit opening position.

3. In stoker apparatus including an electrical motor and a fuel hopper, means for feeding fuel into said fuel hopper by suction including a suction-producing unit supported on said hopper, an outlet for said suction unit open to said fuel hopper, an inlet for said suction unit having a portion movable to positions to pick up stored fuel for feeding to said fuel hopper, means connecting said suction unit for operation by said motor including a clutch device movable to a first operating position to disconnect said suction unit from said motor, and to a second operating position to connect said suction unit with said motor, a control switch in the electrical circuit for said motor, means responsive to the movement of Said clutch device to said first operating position to open said control switch, and to the movement of the clutch device to said second operating position to close said switch, and means responsive to a rise of the fuel in said fuel hopper to a substantially filled level to actuate said clutch device to said second operating position.

4. In stoker apparatus including a hopper, means for feeding fuel from a storage bin into said hoppei` including an upright outlet portion having its lower end open to the space within said hopper, a motor for operating said feeding means, a control switch in the circuit of said motor for controlling the operation of said motor, a fuel contacting member slideably supported for up and down movement on Said outlet portion, and actuating means for said control switch includinga portion movable into an engaging position with said fuel contacting member, with said fuel 9 contacting member being movable upwardly Joy the fuel in said hopper, on a rise of the fuel to a substantially hopper lled level, to engage and move said portion to actuate said switch to a circuit opening position to stop said motor. 5

LEONARD C. NEUFELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Nalme Date Smith Jan. 6, 1931 Schaffer Apr. 29, 1919 Gadd May 27, 1919 Hornbrook Apr. 18, 1944 Ruau July 15, 1924 Holi'l May 20, 1941 Taigman July 22, 1941 Lauterbur Feb. 10, 1925 

